Client news

Somerset House announces the appointment of two new members of staff to its Corporate Events Team.Amy Bowden joins the eight-strong team at Somerset House as Business Development Manager following the promotion of Kara Clark and Stephanie Bevan-Moss to Co-Heads of Corporate Events, while Jenny Freestone takes maternity leave.Amy joins Somerset House from the Royal Horticultural Halls, where she worked as Senior Sales Executive. Previously, she was Event Manager at ExCeL London Hospitality (part of Compass Group UK & Ireland).In her new role, Amy’s objectives are to raise awareness of venue hire opportunities at Somerset House, focusing on corporate clients. As well as working with local businesses, Amy plans to utilise her knowledge of London Fashion Week clients to generate new leads for Women and Men’s Fashion Week. She will also be looking at tactical marketing strategies through promotion of the venue’s newly released Day Delegate Rate packages.Amy comments: “I am extremely excited to join the existing accomplished and creative Corporate Events Team at this iconic central London venue. The diversity of clients who have held events with us are exceptional, and I cannot wait to expand on this.”Another new member of the team is Rebecca Moore, who takes on the role of Event Planner. Rebecca previously worked for two years as Events and Facilities Coordinator at Asia House, where she was responsible for running a diverse range of events.Kara Clark, Co-Head of Corporate Events, comments: “We are delighted to welcome Amy and Rebecca to our creative and dynamic Events team at Somerset House. We know they will contribute to the phenomenal success we have been enjoying over the last year, and are looking forward to seeing the valuable new initiatives they plan to bring to their roles.”

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Notes to Editors:

About Somerset House

Somerset House is an iconic neo-classical 18th century building situated on the north bank of the River Thames, which has become a leading centre for contemporary culture in London. Somerset House also offers a wide variety of venue spaces and services, accommodating any event from press days to product launches, receptions and dinners, to presentations and conferences. Corporate and private events can also be connected with Somerset House’s diverse cultural programme, through private tours and viewings. Somerset House is run as a charity by the Somerset House Trust and events held at the venue directly contribute to its cultural programme and commitment to a new generation of artists based in Somerset House Studios, as well as its education and outreach work. The grandeur and heritage of Somerset House’s range of buildings and event spaces, coupled with the expertise of the Corporate Events team, offer an unrivalled location for an unforgettable event.

Portico Rooms – Somerset House’s most popular private hire venue offers balcony views over both The Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court and the River Thames. With a capacity for 200 standing, 80 people for a seated lunch and dinner and 100 people for theatre-style seating, Portico Rooms provide a flexible yet grand space for all kinds of events from press days and receptions to dinners and wine tastings.

Navy Board Rooms – These four inter-connected rooms were originally home to the Navy Board, overseeing British naval affairs at the start of the Empire. The layout offers great flexibility - from one specific room to the use of all four spaces for a range of purposes with capacity for 100 standing, 50 people for seated lunch and dinner and 32 for cabaret-style seating.

West Wing ­­ – Entered via the striking grandeur of the Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court, guests experience a feeling of calm and space as they enter the West Wing Galleries. With 15 newly renovated rooms, this expansive area boasts light wooden flooring, sweeping high ceilings and plenty of natural light. The understated elegance of the West Wing Galleries has something to suit all tastes, with the blank canvas galleries providing a fantastic backdrop for showcases, press days, product launches and experiential events.

Outdoor Spaces

River Terrace – The River Terrace location offers glorious views of the South Bank across the River Thames, offering a spectacular setting for al fresco events from summer parties to outdoor receptions. The space holds a capacity of 500 standing. Included in the hire is Seamen’s Hall, a wet weather option with a capacity of up to 200.

The Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court – The Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court is situated around Somerset House’s elegant fountains and is surrounded on all sides by glorious 18th century buildings. This space is home to some of the best-loved events such as Film4 Summer Screen, Summer Series and Skate, the winter ice rink. This exclusive outdoor space with a capacity of 1500 is available for bespoke evening events on a limited number of specific dates throughout the year.

Lightwells and Deadhouse – The Lightwells and Deadhouse are a favourite for film location managers for film and television and have frequently been used as a backdrop for film and TV including Downton Abbey and Sherlock Holmes. This unique subterranean space, full of atmosphere and charm, is the ideal location for out-of-the-ordinary events. The unique space is available for receptions, press days and launches and capacity varies for each event.

Somerset House also houses one of the largest communities of creative organisations in London including The Courtauld Gallery and Institute of Art, King’s College London Cultural Institute and over 100 other creative businesses. In October 2016, Somerset House launched Somerset House Studios, a new experimental workspace connecting artists, makers and thinkers with audiences. The Studios provide a platform for new creative projects and collaboration, promoting work that pushes bold ideas, engages with urgent issues and pioneers new technologies. Somerset House is one of the top ten leading visitor attractions in the UK and currently attracts approximately 3.4 million visitors every year.